USA > Tennessee > History of Tennessee from the earliest time to the present : together with an historical and a biographical sketch of from twenty-five to thirty counties of east Tennessee, V.3 > Part 40
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William Fowler was born March 5, 1842, in Cocke County, the son of Abijah and Elizabeth (Cureton) Fowler. The former was born in 1807, in Cocke County, the son of Dr. Thomas Fowler, who was of Scotch-Irish stock, and a prominent physician. and pioneer of East Tennessee. The father, Abijah Fowler, was self educated, and was the author of Fowler's Arithmetic. He was a school teacher, and devoted to mathematics and the publication and sale of his book, from which he realized a small fortune. After the age of forty years, he was devoted to farming, until his death, in 1878. The mother was born in 1828, the daughter of Richard Cureton, of Cocke County. She died in 1SS2, four years after her husband's death. Our subject, the eldest of twelve children, received a limited education at Hiwassee College, Tennessee, where he was in attendance at the time the late war between the States came on, and suspended all the schools in the South. Soon after this, it being well-known that he was an earnest supporter of the Union -- he was compelled to seek shelter fron Confederate conscription officers, in the Northern States, which he reached after much trouble and many privations. After the war had closed, he returned to his home, in Monroe County, Tenn., when he read law, and was admitted to the bar, in 1868, and located, for a short time, in Loudon, Tenn. He finally settled in Sevierville, Tenn., where he has practiced up to the present time. In 1812 he was clerk of the county court, and served in that capacity for six years; and in 1882 he was appointed clerk and master of the chancery court, which position he now holds. In Sep- tember. 1869, he was married to O. E., daughter of Watson Karnes, of Philadelphia, Tenn. She was born in 1849, in Monroe County. They have one child, O. C. Fowler, who is now being educated at Mary Sharp College, Tennessee.
James A. Henderson, M. D., was born near Sevierville, June 19, 1861. the son of W. and Mary Mc (Runnyan) Henderson, the former born December 8, 1833, near this place, the son of George M. and Sarah (Yett) Henderson. George M. was born May 10, 1811. the son of William, who was born in Cocke County, a son of William, Sr., of Vir- ginia, and a pioneer of this State. The ancestors have been farmers, and the father is still living. The mother, born September 3, 1833, is the daughter of Aaron Runnyan. The parents were married January 6, 1855, and had ten children. Our subject was ed :- cated at Carson College, in 1878-80, and began the study of medicine in 1880, under Dr. Walker, of Sevierville. After 1881 in Vanderbilt University, he practiced until 1882, and in 1883 graduated at Bellevue Medical College, New York. He became a partner
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of Dr. Walker for a year, since which he has practiced alone. In March, 1881, he married Mary E., the daughter of Capt. J. A. Montgomery, and born in 1863. She died Novem - ber 22, 1983, leaving one child, Victor, only six days old, and December 17, 1884, he mar- ried Lauretta, the daughter of W. C. Murphey, and born August 26, 1866. Our subject is & Baptist, and his wife a Methodist. He now owns quite a nice residence and office in Sevierville, where he is permantly located, and is commanding an extensive practice.
A. J. McCallie was born in Sevier County, November 12, 1819, the son of Alexander and Hettie (McCroskey) McCallie, the former a son of John, who was a native of Scot- land, born January 8, 1754, one of the following children: Andrew, Simon, Archibald, Mary and Ann. He came to York County, Penn., in 1775, and married Nancy Burney, after which he settled in Tennessee, and finally in Blount County. The father was born Mareb 7, 1781, in Pennsylvania, and the mother in this State in 1785. Our subject, the youngest child of three sons and three daughters, received few advantages on the farm, but has since become owner of a fine estate of 200 acres. In 1844 he married Harriet T. A., daughter of James Cunningham, and born in Knox County, September 30, 1824. Their children are James A., William A., John H., Samuel W., Robert A., Joseph M., Thomas O., Mary A., Emily C. and Hettie MI. Our subject is a Master Mason, and he and his wife are esteemed Presbyterians.
M. W. McCown, farmer, was born where he now lives October 21, 1817, the son of George and Mary (Porter) McCown, the former born in Rockbridge County, Va., July, 1790, and has been a resident of this State since childhood. He was a farmer, and for several years a Sevierville merchant. For about six years, from 1820, he was trustee, and in 1827 he became county clerk, which office he held until 1833, when he became circuit court clerk for four years. He was self educated, having been bound out as a boy after the death of his father, and educated himself largely while he was teaching. He was a member of the Methodist Church, and died in July, 1871. The grandfather, John, also a native of Vir- ginia, came to this county about 1792, and died during the Indian troubles, a year later. The mother was born in Botetourt County, Va., in 1795, the daughter of Mitchell Porter, of the same county. The latter served in the Revolution, and was a prominent citizen of this county after 1800, and died in 1836. The mother was a Methodist, and died the fol- lowing year. In 1845 the father married Sarah Runyan, of this county, born in 1824, and deceased in 1865. Our subject, the third of six children, lived on the farm until sixteen years old, and attended country schools. He then became a clerk at Sevierville, and in 1840 became a partner of John Bradson until 1843. He became register in March, 1845, and in 1848 resigned to become circuit court clerk, which office he filled until 1864. For five years after the war he was deputy circuit court clerk. In 1870, however, he became clerk, and served by re-election for eight years. He had entered farming in 1861, and on retiring from public life he resumed that occupation on his estate of 300 acres. In 1846 he mar- ried Teressa, a daughter of Richard Lanning, of this county. She was born in Jefferson County in 1824. They have four children living, and both are Methodists.
W. C. Murphy, merchant, was born in Blount County, June 18, 1831, the son of James C. and Polly (Smith) Murphy; the former was born in the above county, in 1807, the son of Archibald, a native of North Carolina, who came to Grainger County, and married Mary McKinney. He then located in Blount County, as & farmer and trader, and died about 1867, in Indiana. The father has always been a farmer and merchant, and in 1833 came to Sevierville, and engaged in tanning for four years. After a time, in Blount County, he returned in 1847 to Harrisburg, Sevier County, where he now resides. He was a major and colonel of militia, and served as a magistrate for several years. The mother, born in Blount County, February 18, 1811, is the daughter of Joseph and Margaret (Mccutchen) Smith, natives of Virginia, the former, a soldier, of 1812, in which war he contracted a disease which caused his death. The father is a Methodist, and the mother a Presbyterian, in sentiment. Our subject, the eldest of eight children, had the usual country advantages, and, from his fifteenth to his seventeenth year, carried the United States mail from Maryville to Athens, Tenn. When eighteen he became a clerk at Sevierville, in a general store, and when twenty became a partner in the store of Harris & Co., receiv.
JOHN W. ANDES.
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SEVIER COUNTY.
ing an interest through his father. The firm became Murphy & Mitchel, and later Murphy, McNutt & Co. The store was destroyed by fire, in 1856, and two years later he became a partner of A. R. MeBath, who, about one year later, retired. J. P. Dyre afterward be- came his partner, but soon retired also. In 1862 our subject became agent of the county. to buy and distribute salt for the people, and in 1863 he went to Cincinnati, and bought goods, and again became a merchant at Sevierville. He next engaged in trading in Fed- eral commissary and quartermaster vouchers, and also became provost-marshal's assistant. In 1804 he and his father became merchants at Knoxville, but the following year they returned to their old stand. He became an agent in prosecuting soldiers', widows' and or- phans' back pay, bounty and pensions; he successively prosecuted about 700 cases. In 1876 our subject became sole proprietor, but sold out in 1879, and three years later moved to his present farm, near Sevierville. He now owns 1,725 acres of farming land, in Sevier County, a brick store in Sevierville, a half interest in 437 acres, in Illinois, and a small farm in Blount County, and is probably worth about $50,000. In 1856 he married Lan- retta, a daughter of Alexander McBath, and born in 1831. She died, in the early part of 1878, leaving two children. In the fall of that year he married Lucy, a daughter of M. A. and H. S. Rawlings. They have three children living. Our subject is a Meth- odist, and is a hearty advocate of a constitutional amendment in the State to pro- hibit the manufacture or sale of intoxicating liquors, wine, ale or beer as a beverage.
John Murphy, merchant, was born in Sevierville, June 23, 1835, the son of James C. and Mary (Smith) Murphy, the former, born in Blount County in 1807, a son of Archi- bald Murphy, the former of Irish descent, born in North Carolina. The father is an extensive farmer and merchant, living near Sevierville, and has two sons and four daughters. Our subject grew up on the farm, and since 1865 has been a merchant, also engaged in farming. In December, 1854, he married Elizabeth Robertson. Besides two deceased children, those living are IT. M., J. C., Robert, W. S., B. W., John, Della P. and Mattie E. She died January 19, 1879, and July 30 he married Eliza R. Trotter. Their children are Ethel, Fannie, Bulla, Lida and one unnamed. Our subject was a mer- chant, when he joined Company MI, Second Federal Tennessee Cavalry, as first lieu- tenant, serving in the battles of Murfreesboro, Chickamauga, Nashville, Franklin and others, serving three years altogether. He is a Methodist, and a highly esteemed man.
D. W. Payne, farmer, was born in Knox County, October 6, 1838, the son of Edmund and Jane (Wrinkle) Payne, the former born in Knox County, February 17, 1798, the son of Chestley, who was a native of Virginia, and a pioneer farmer of East Tennessee, in which occupation, the father was also engaged. The mother was born at Gap Creek, Knox County, March 10, 1803, the daughter of Jacob Wrinkle. Our subject. the youngest child of six sons and two daughters, was reared with rural advantages, and began life as a poor man, but now has acquired a good farm of about 200 acres. January 9, 1862, be joined company K, Second Tennessee Infantry, and was mustered out April 4, 1865. He served at Murfreesboro and other places, and November 6, 1863, was captured at Rogers- ville, and imprisoned at Belle Isle, Richmond, and later at Andersonville. After his parole, February 25, 1865. he returned home, and March 22, 1868, he married Mary E. McNutt, a daughter of Wilson Burns. He is a Republican.
John M. Rambo, farmer, was born near his present residence May 14. 1833. the son of Peter and Frances (Marshall) Rambo, the former born in Virginia, and a pioneer of this county, in early life, where he followed farming with success. In 1812 he was a soldier and a spy under Gen. Hull, who betrayed his soldiers into the hands of the enemy, and the father was imprisoned in Canada, where for over a year he suffered terribly. The mother was born in Sevier County, about 1798. the daughter of John Marshall, who came from Ireland in manhood, and died about 1844. The mother died in 18:5. Our subject, the youngest child of four sons and four daughters, received a limited education, and re- mained on the farm until twenty-five years of age. After a year in Knoxville as a mer- chant, he engaged in the same occupation in Sevierville, in 1865. Thirteen years later he became a farmer on his present estate, which embraces 405 acres, with some of the best improvements of any farm in the county. He has been a liberal, public-spirited man,
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BIOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.
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and a contributor to the erection of every church in the county. In 1864 he married Martha, a daughter of Hubbard Carnes, and horn in this county. They had one child. and the wife died in 1879. In 1881 he married Ellen, a daughter of Levi Roberts, of this county. They had four children.
J. M. Sharp was born in this county, July 8, 1816, the son of John and Jane (John- son) Sharp, the former of whom was the son of John Sharp, Sr., a native of Ireland, who became a volunteer at the battle of Brandywine. He had married Ann Boyd in Ireland, and came with her to Pennsylvania before the Revolution, after which they moved to Augusta County, Va., where he was an extensive farmer, and reared a family of five sons and four daughters. The subject's father was born November 11, 1760. and died July 16, 1841. He came to East Tennessee when but eighteen, and became one of Gov. Sevier's spies and guards on the Indian frontier. He afterward traded with the Indians in horses and furs, for several years, in which he became wealthy. After fifteen years of farming near Maryville, he came to where our subject now lives. About 1806 he mar- ried Jane Johnson, his second wife, his first being Isabella McChesney, to whom were born three daughters. Both wives were born in Rockbridge County, Va. Our subject and Ann were the only children of the second wife. He was educated at Maryville College, and has been an extensive farmer. December 3, 1846, he married Rebecca, a daughter of William Cannon, who was born in this county in March 9, 1812. Their children are John W., James M., Jr., Gilford E. and Samuel P.
G. E. Sharp, M. D., was born in this county October 26, 1852, the son of James M., who is mentioned above. He was reared on a farm, and after his rural education graduated, in 1890, from the Bellevue Medical College, at New York. After his first course of lectures in 1874-75 he practiced until the winter of 1879-80, and then attended college, as above stated, since which time he has lived in this county, where he has been very suc- cessful in his practice. He is a member of the Knoxville Board of Examining Surgeons for Pensions. October 19, 1876, he married F. Irene, a daughter of Benjamin Brabson. She was born at Maryville. Tenn., December 12, 1852. Their children are Erle E., born Novem- ber 26, 1877; Benjamin B., June 20, 1879; James W., November 11, 1881; and Lizzie Bessy. born November 29, 1884. The infant born June 20, 1887, is named Samuel Linch. In politics Dr. Sharp is a Democrat, and is a member for Sevier County of the Democratic Executive Committee for the Second District of Tennessee.
M. P. Thomas, farmer, was born April 6, 1835, on his present farm, the son of H. M. and Sarah R. (Porter) Thomas, the former born in 1798 near Sevierville, the son of Isaac and Betsy (Massengil!) Thomas, of Virginia. He left the Revolution and became a pioneer of this county near Sevierville, and in his house were held the first courts of the county. He was a prominent man. The grandparents had five sons and three daughters. The father was a farmer, and among offices held that of magistrate and deputy sheriff. The mother was born December 14, 1801, near Sevierville, the daughter of Mitchell and Penelope (West) Porter, natives of Virginia, the former a pioneer of this county. The father died June 3, 1871, and the mother December 27, 1884. Our subject, the fifth child, attended the county schools, and when seventeen became a clerk at Sevierville for two years. After a year in Dandridge, he became a clerk in this county until 1863. After the war he became clerk and master until 1870. Until 1878 he was a merchant at Sevierville, and then for four years deputy county clerk; after a time as hardware merchant; he sold out and bought the old homestead of 210 acres, and became a farmer. May 18, 1863, he married Julia C., a daughter of Richard and Jane M. Lanning, natives of Sevier and Jefferson Counties, re- spectively. She was born January 1, 1841, in Jefferson County, and they have seven children.
W. H. Wayland, Jr., farmer, was born in Sevier County, August 23, 1851, the son of Lewis and Rebecca A. (Burns) Wayland; the former was born in Virginia in 1818, the son of Lewis, who was of German origin. He was an extensive farmer and a revenue collector of this county, whose death occurred in 1871. His wife was born in 1827 in this county, the daughter of Wilson Burns, who was of Scotch-Irish stock. Our sub- ject, the fourth child of five sons and five daughters, was educated at Rocky Springs Academy. He is a man of business ability, and has been very successful as a farmer.
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SEVIER COUNTY.
In 1875 he married Mary M., a daughter of David Goddard, of Blount County. Their children are Audley E., David G., Lillie L. and Annie K. Our subject is a Methodist, and votes the Republican ticket.
R. K. Whittle, farmer, was born in Sevier County November 10, 1826, the son of John and Mary (Keener) Whittle, who are mentioned in the sketch of O. M. Whittle. Our subject received the usual country advantages, and has always been devoted to agri- cultural pursuits, with success. On October 7, 1857, he married Sarah E. Wayland, who was born in this county August 28, 1835. Their children are Lewis O., born Septem- ber 13, 1858; James A., born Sept. 2, 1859; Sallie M., born December 17, 1861; Samuel A., February 27; 1805; Mary C., March 15, 1867; Annie L., October 2, 1870; and Mattie H., born November 6, 1878. Lewis, James and Annie are dead. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and politically he is a Republican.
O. M. Whittle, merchant, was born in Sevier County, February 25, 1831, the son of John and Mary (Keener) Whittle, born in Virginia, April 27, 1787, and the latter in the same State, February 20, 1801. They were farmers, and reared six sons and five daugh- ters. Our subject is largely a self-made man, and had few advantages in his country home, notwithstanding which he has been successful. In 1865 he became a merchant at Trundles Cross Roads, where he conducts a large business. He is a Master Mason, and politically an ardent Republican. Religiously, he is a Methodist.
T. D. Wynn, farmer, was born near Sevierville, January 14, 1834 the son of Ashley and Nancy L. (Porter) Wynn, the former born in Lee County, Va., in 1801, the son of Elkanah Wynn. The father came to this State in 1830, and settled where our subject now resides. He was a faimer and a " circuit rider" before coming to Tennessee under the direction of the Methodist Church, but his failing health led him to agriculture, but he also preached as a local minister until his death, January 1, 1866. The mother was born in Sevierville in 1799, the daughter of Mitchell Porter, a Virginian, and a pioneer of this county. She was a devoted Methodist and died July 11, 1833. Our subject, the youngest of three children, attended district school, and has always been devoted to agriculture. His estate consists of about 160 acres, about seventy-five of which are under cultivation. From 1866 he served as justice for twenty years, nine years of which he was chairman of the county court. On December 22, 1853, he married D. M., a daughter of Philip and Mary (Barnhardt) Seaton, the former born in Greene County, Tenn., in 1800, the son of Benjamin Seaton, and the latter born in 1803, the daughter of Conrad Barnhardt, a Penn- sylvanian, resident of Tennessee since childhood. His wife was born near Sevierville, October 27, 1834. 'They have ten of eleven children living. He and his wife are Meth- odists.
E. M. Wynn, sheriff, was born near Sevierville, and is the son of Ashley and Nancy L. (Porter) Wynn, the former born September 20, 1801, in Virginia, the son of Elkanah, a native of Lee County, Va., and was a blacksmith and a farmer. The father was a Methodist minister, and came to this country about 1827, preaching in Sevierville and New - port circuits. He became a local preacher near Sevierville, and was a pulpit orator of considerable ability. He married in 1830 the daughter of Mitchell Porter, a native of Virginia, and a pioneer of this county; he was a farmer and soldier of the Revolution. She was born near Sevierville in 1797. The father died January 1, 1865, and his widow in July, 1885. Their children were Mary R., T. D. and E. M. Our subject was fairly edu- cated, and in 1862 joined Company M, Second Federal Tennessee Cavalry, and became second lieutenant, and in 1863 captain. He was mustered out July, 1865. From then until 1873 he was a merchant at Pigeon Forge, and for three years after at Sevierville, He then became clerk and master in chancery for six years, and in 1886 became sheriff. He was married in 1855 to Sarah, a daughter of John S. Trotter, and born in 1839 in this county. Six of their seven children are living. She died in 1871, and in April, 1872, he married Maria C., a daughter of Dr. W. H. Trotter, and born in 1844. They have five children.
Miller Yett, merchant, was born in Sevier County. March 23, 1859, the son of John C. and Margaret A. (Ray) Yett. The father was born January 26, 1809, and died
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BIOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX.
April 12, 1875, and the mother was born January 1, 1825, and died November 20, 1872. The father was an extensive farmer, and an esteemed member of the Baptist Church, of which the mother also was a member, when she died in 1872. Our subject was educated at Sevierville, and worked on the farm until 1884, when he began as a merchant. He became register of the county in August, 1886, and is a popular and promising young man. In 1879 be married Mollie K., a daughter of E. S. Snapp, who bore him the fol- lowing children: Stuart M. and John E. Our subject is a Methodist, and politically is a Republican.
ANDERSON COUNTY.
W. E. Baker is one of the leading citizen farmers of Clinton, Tenn. He was born in Anderson County, Tenn., January 12, 1849, and is the son of George W. and Ann H. (McAdoo) Baker. The father was a native of Ashe County, N. C. He was a minister of the Methodist Church, and followed merchandising and farming at the same time, During the late war he was a sympathizer of the Federal Government, and was killed in 1864 by a gang of Wheeler raiders. He was elected, and served as register of Anderson County for a number of years. His mother was a native of Anderson County, Tenn., and was the daughter of John McAdoo, and the sister of Prof. McAdoo, of Knoxville. She died in April, 1881. Our subject was reared in Clinton, and attended the schools of the town. After the war he began farming in Anderson County, and continued until 1880. At that time he was appointed United States revenue gauger in the Second Ten- nesee District, and served as such until October 17, 1885, when he resigned and returned to Clinton. In 1SS; he entered the nursery business, and now has about 30,000 fruit trees. He was married in October, 1876, to Jennie Slagle, of Knox County, Tenn., who died in April, 1878. To this union one child wasiborn, which died two months before its riother. He was again married December 9, 1880, to Emma Whaley, who was born in August, 1856. and is the daughter of Mary J. Whaley, of Anderson County. To this union three chil- dren have been born, two of whom are living Our subject and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
James H. Black (deceased) was born in Blount County, Tenn., in 1805, the son of Joseph and Catherine (Henry) Black, a sketch of whom will be found with that of John Black. Our subject was reared on the farm, and was a man of method, who took delight in his work. In 1854 he married Elizabeth Bogle, who was born in Blount County, Tenn., in 1812, the daughter of Samuel and Ellen (Williams) Bogle. The father was a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1765, and one of the first settlers of Blount County. He died in 1853. The mother was a native of Washington County, Va., born in 1775, and died in 1851. Both were Presbyterians. Our subject died in 1875, leaving his widow a fine farm of over 200 acres, on Clinch River, and also a farm in Blount County. He was an elder of the Presbyterian Church, of which his widow is also a member. She is a lady of strong intellect and many attainments, and enjoys the good-will and esteem of all who know her, being charitable, religious, and always ready with a helping hand to aid all who need her assistance.
John Black, one of the oldest and most prominent farmers of Anderson County, was born in Blount County, September 30, 1811, the son of Joseph and Catherine ( Henry) Black. The father was born in Virginia in 1781, the son of Joseph Black, who was also a native of Virginia, and at an early date a pioneer of Blount County, Tenn. The father, a farmer, moved to Anderson County when our subject was a child. He served in the war of 1812, under Gen. Jackson, holding the position of lieutenant in one of the Anderson County companies. He died in 1864. The mother was born in Blount County, August 8, 1784, and died July 24, 1819. Our subject was reared on the farm, in Anderson County, and attended their schools, but finished his education at Clinton and Maryville.
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